By
Paul Dicken
15 September 2010
The campaign, which began on September 14, aims to reduce the 250 tons of out-of-date, surplus and redundant medicines that patients take back to pharmacies and GP surgeries.
A combination of radio adverts, leaflets and advice to patients aims to raise the awareness of those taking medication. At the same time, the chief medical officer for Wales, Dr Tony Jewell, and NHS chief executive, Paul Williams, will write to health professionals highlighting good practice.
The WAG stressed that its own research and an independent report had shown that the abolition of prescription charges in Wales had not led to an increase in prescriptions.
Health Minister Edwina Hart said: ‘Millions of pounds worth of waste medicines are burnt every year. This is money that could be better spent elsewhere in the NHS.’ She said that if patients ordered only what they needed and GPs prescribed effectively, the safety and benefits of medicine management would be felt directly across Wales.
Welsh Conservative health spokesman Andrew Davies criticised the government for failing to adequately address a long-standing problem.
In other news from Wales it was announced this week that Huw Vaughan Williams will take up his post as the new auditor general for Wales on October 1. The former chief executive of Gwynedd and Denbighshire councils pledged to provide ‘effective support and challenge’ to the public sector during ‘these harsh financial times’.
15 September 2010
The Welsh Assembly Government has launched a campaign to reduce the estimated £50m wasted on unused medication.
The campaign, which began on September 14, aims to reduce the 250 tons of out-of-date, surplus and redundant medicines that patients take back to pharmacies and GP surgeries.
A combination of radio adverts, leaflets and advice to patients aims to raise the awareness of those taking medication. At the same time, the chief medical officer for Wales, Dr Tony Jewell, and NHS chief executive, Paul Williams, will write to health professionals highlighting good practice.
The WAG stressed that its own research and an independent report had shown that the abolition of prescription charges in Wales had not led to an increase in prescriptions.
Health Minister Edwina Hart said: ‘Millions of pounds worth of waste medicines are burnt every year. This is money that could be better spent elsewhere in the NHS.’ She said that if patients ordered only what they needed and GPs prescribed effectively, the safety and benefits of medicine management would be felt directly across Wales.
Welsh Conservative health spokesman Andrew Davies criticised the government for failing to adequately address a long-standing problem.
In other news from Wales it was announced this week that Huw Vaughan Williams will take up his post as the new auditor general for Wales on October 1. The former chief executive of Gwynedd and Denbighshire councils pledged to provide ‘effective support and challenge’ to the public sector during ‘these harsh financial times’.
